On March 18, 2025, a Noida resident filed a chilling complaint that marked the beginning of a deep investigation into a sophisticated cybercrime racket. The victim reported receiving a phone call from unknown individuals who posed as law enforcement officers.
They accused him of being involved in serious crimes such as human trafficking and money laundering. Playing on fear and urgency, the fraudsters threatened "digital arrest"—a coercive tactic where victims are told they are being remotely monitored or detained digitally, a term gaining infamy in recent cyber fraud cases.
The scammers instructed the victim to transfer money to various accounts to "prove innocence" and avoid immediate arrest. Terrified, the victim transferred a staggering ₹2.39 crore across multiple transactions. The fraud unfolded like a psychological hostage situation, with the victim too scared to contact local authorities. Thankfully, timely intervention by the cybercrime police allowed investigators to freeze bank accounts and recover ₹6.72 lakh, now being processed for return to the victim.
The Accused: A Collusion of Commission and Desperation
The accused—Mukesh Saxena (50) and Anees Ahmed (39), both residents of Moradabad—were arrested following electronic surveillance and bank trail analysis. Mukesh, reportedly an accountant, confessed to joining the operation under financial stress. He was introduced to the racket by Anees, who provided current bank accounts in exchange for commission. These accounts were used to funnel and launder stolen funds.
During interrogation, Mukesh admitted that ₹18 lakh from the defrauded amount was received in his account and shared between the two. What began as a desperate measure for Mukesh quickly spiraled into a criminal partnership rooted in profit and deception.
Further scrutiny revealed deeper criminal footprints. Anees Ahmed's bank accounts have been flagged in at least 15 cyber fraud complaints totaling ₹12 crore, spread across Delhi, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Mukesh Saxena is linked to 18 complaints involving ₹2 crore, with cases registered in states including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. This vast geographic spread highlights the cross-state operational reach of the racket.
Public Awareness and Police Response: Fighting Back Against Cybercrime
Following the arrests, Noida Police issued a comprehensive advisory to help citizens recognize and prevent such scams:
• Never trust unknown video calls, especially from individuals dressed as police officers.
• Report threats involving parcels or legal documents to the nearest police station instead of engaging.
• No legitimate government agency conducts financial investigations over the phone—beware of callers citing money laundering or hawala accusations.
• Do not share personal or banking information with unknown callers.
• Immediately inform your bank and authorities if any suspicious activity is detected.
• Discuss any such threats with family or trusted individuals before taking action.
The cyber cell has urged people to report any suspected frauds through the 1930 cybercrime helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).
While arrests have been made, investigations continue to uncover more individuals associated with the network. Noida Police have intensified raids to capture other operatives who facilitated the scam's logistics and fund routing.
